Thousands of families and community members are gathering in Orchard Park, New York this week for the annual Section VI High School Football playoffs. The event, hosted at Highmark Stadium, marks a longstanding tradition where high school athletes from Western New York compete for sectional championships on an NFL field.
Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen, who once played in these games, described the experience: “You feel everyone in your section is watching, everyone in Western New York is watching,” Andreessen said.
The week begins with Section VI Media Day at Highmark Stadium. On this day, coaches and team captains from each finalist school meet with reporters and photographers. Players have the opportunity to speak behind microphones and interact with their counterparts before facing off on the field. According to Andreessen: “That’s your goal at the beginning of the year. You have the big media day before where you get to meet the other team captains from Section VI,” he said. “It’s just a great experience, from being in the locker room to being on the field.”
Ken Stoldt, a member of the Section VI Football Committee and its former chairman, noted: “For the high school players, it’s the marquee event of the year.” He added: “It just never gets old to be down on that field and see the kids walking down that tunnel to go to the field. The look in their eyes, and how excited they are for that time out there. That’s why we do this and it’s been a huge success.”
The use of an NFL venue elevates what would otherwise be regular high school playoff games into a major regional sporting event. Section VI has held its championship football games at Highmark Stadium since 1979.
This year’s playoffs are particularly significant because 2025 will be the last year that Section VI hosts its finals at Highmark Stadium.
Orchard Park High School holds records for both most victories (15) and most playoff appearances (23) since these championships began under Section VI governance. Sweet Home High School holds a record for consecutive playoff appearances over ten years between 2005 and 2014.
For 2025, organizers introduced a preseason media day at Highmark Stadium where select athletes participated in photoshoots wearing full uniforms—an effort intended to further highlight teams and build anticipation for fans.
Joe Andreessen recalled his own time playing at Highmark Stadium fondly: “It was the first time Lancaster got a section championship in a long time,” he said. “That was definitely special.”
As memories continue to form during this final season at Highmark Stadium, many former players like Andreessen reflect on how meaningful these experiences remain even after moving on from high school football.
